Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe? Trying to settle on the best player in the NBA—Lakers guard Kobe Bryant or Cavaliers forward LeBron—is no easy choice.

But, according to Sporting News’ panel of experts, Bryant is the clear-cut No. 1. Bryant tops SN’s list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

Bryant received almost twice as many first-place votes as James, 62 to 34....

Heat guard Dwyane Wade was third on the list and received 11 first-place votes. Magic center Dwight Howard was fourth, and Spurs power forward Tim Duncan fifth.